Linthicum: Keller's update – new owners will keep things the same

With rumors swirling about the uncertain future of Linthicum's beloved Keller's Bakery, their doughnuts, jelly pies and homemade bread have been flying off the shelves. The new owners Dawn Skelton, a lifelong Linthicum resident, and her fiance, Jay Schad, said they will be keeping everything the same.

Good news, Keller's Bakery fans – the new owners say they're keeping everything the same

Keller's Bakery has changed owners but will remain open under the same name and use the same recipes and equipment that have helped churn out the baked goods Linthicum has come to know and love over the past 53 years.

Dawn Skelton, a lifelong Linthicum resident, and her fiancé Jay Schad of Towson, bought the business at 509 S Camp Meade Road from Tom and Mike Keller and will begin running it on their own on Monday.

Mary Keller will continue to staff the front of the store and her husband Tom will stay on as a consulting baker during the transitional phase.

Skelton and Schad hired Staci Spitzer as their full-time baker. Spitzer has seven years of baking experience in a range of local bakeries and grocers.

The hours of operation will remain the same – 6 a.m. to noon or whenever the goods are sold out – and the new owners were adamant in expressing what many in Linthicum want to hear:

"We are keeping everything the same," said Schad. "If we keep everything the same then we can't fail. I'm not even going to put new paint on the walls."

Photos about the people and places of Linthicum as featured in Heather Vecchioni's "Linthicum" column

Well, one thing will change -- the bakery will not be closed during the first two weeks of July. That was a customary vacation time for the Kellers and the store was generally closed then, but Schad and Skelton want patrons to have confidence that the bakery is going to stay open after so many months of speculation that it would close.

Skelton was compelled to buy the bakery when she saw that it would close unless sold through a Facebook page that keeps her in touch with her Andover High School class of 1986 classmates.

"People were devastated to hear they were closing," said Skelton. "For me, it was about upholding a family tradition. Our family has been going there for four generations. It's a well-established business. It's a part of Linthicum and I wanted it to remain here."

Spitzer, who has worked as a baker at Yia Yia's Bakery in Rosedale, Bakery Express on Hollin's Ferry Road, and at a Harris Teeter grocery store, said she is honored to be taking over as lead baker at Keller's.

"It is a bit of pressure, but I'm not going to panic," she said. "I've run stores before. It's a big confidence booster to know people believe in me."

Skelton, Schad, and Spitzer have been training under the guidance of the Keller brothers for the past several days, learning the ins and outs of a baking process that is done from scratch each day. They have all been arriving at Tom and Mike's customary 2:30 a.m. arrival time as they have begun to take the reins of the business and see exactly what goes into making the store work each day.

"I have a new respect for bakers - I truly say that," said Skelton, who thanked the Keller brothers for showing them how to do the work.

"Everything is handmade, from scratch. They are amazing to watch and they are teaching us all their methods which were taught from their father," said Skelton. "It's amazing how they do things. It's been a learning experience. And when I say this I mean it from the bottom of my heart: We are very honored to take over the bakery."

Patriotism in the Park

The Benfield Brass Band will pay a salute to America as the featured performers of the July 5 Summer Concerts in the Park Series at the Linthicum Park on Benton Avenue.

The group performing this Sunday is Love Story Duo.

The series is sponsored by the General Federation of Women's Clubs Woman's Club of Linthicum Heights

All summer concert shows will begin at 6 p.m. unless it rains, in which case it will be canceled.

People should take chairs or blankets for seating. Picnicking is allowed, but alcoholic is prohibited.

For details, call 410-859-3308.

Fair planning meeting

Planners for Sept. 26's Linthicum Community will meet at 7 p.m. July 7 at St. John Lutheran Church, 300 W. Maple Road.

Any non-profit organization interested in participating in the fair is asked to attend the planning meeting.

•The organizing committee is still looking for local businesses to support the fair. If interested, contact Sue Wenzlick at 410-850-5680 or Wenzlick@verizon.net to find out how your business can help make the fair successful.